Simon Lab Spotlight! Yusuf Figueroa

Yusuf Figueroa, Clinical Research Assistant, from Valley Stream, NY
B.B.A. in Health Services Management from Berkeley College, currently pursuing an M.S. in Clinical Trial Management from York College CUNY

Q. Cats or Dogs or Other?
A. I am a little biased. I have 4 cats and one dog, and they are all my babies so I'm going to have to say both.

Q. What sparked your interest in virology research or led you to join the Simon and Mulder Lab?
A. I was doing independent study at York in a Neuroscience Lab. Before that, I was also a CNA in a Nursing Home. I wanted to go down the path of bedside nursing or Nurse Practitioner, but working at the Nursing Home made me realize that's not what I wanted and being able to have the opportunity to independently study I realized I enjoy research a lot more and it was a career path I wanted to go down.

Q. What is the most interesting part of your job?
A. I really enjoy being in the clinic. It is the participant-facing side of our research program, and we get the opportunity to interact with many different participants who also share our interest in research. I also learned phlebotomy while working in the Simon/Mulder Lab, so I am able to draw blood from our study participants.

Q. What is your favorite spot in all of New York?
A. Too many beautiful spots to decide! I love a good scenic hike anywhere upstate. Specifically around Hudson Valley!

Q. How did the Pandemic impact your position on research and virology?
A. When the pandemic happened, I wasn't even in health care - I was a soccer coach. When I witnessed how the pandemic affected me and my family, it pushed me to take that step into working in the health care sector and beginning my journey with my first CNA course.

Q. What does a day in the lab look like?
A. A typical day for me involves coordinating and running participant visits in both outpatient and inpatient settings. I help collect samples and data after infections or vaccinations while making sure participants feel comfortable, safe, and informed throughout the process. I also spend time handling documentation and data carefully to maintain accuracy and privacy. Overall, my role is keeping the research running smoothly while looking after the people who take part in it.

Q. Aside from being a great Clinical Research Assistant, what would you describe to be your personal superpower?
A. I am good at working with people; I try my best to be personable and use those skills to interact with all our participants.

Q. If you could share one piece of advice with people interested in research, what would it be?
A. If you are interested in research, try everything! Research has so many different avenues to go down, I would encourage people to explore as many different fields as you can, and you will find something that you feel passionate about.

Thank you Yusuf for sharing your story and also Aidan Vera for helping with the Spotlight Series!